Frontyardcoop

THE FIRST SOLAR POWERED CHICKEN TRACTOR

The coop and the "children" are doing great! Big test last night. A fox came screaming at my window at 2am. Scared the heck out of me. I went out to check on my girls and they were snug as bugs. Electric wire ticking away.

Thank u sooo much for helping make my dream come true to share my home with chickens in a way that keeps them safe and happy.

Pauline."

Coop Price $2,250

Why the FYC?

For the benefit of the birds, we set out to create a healthy, safe and complete home. For the owners we insisted that it was both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally forward. We also wanted it to be the ultimate in turnkey startup: ready to use, no experience necessary.

The coops we offer are the result of our years of experiences with our chickens. We have tried all manner of strategies for their care and protection. We are not real farmers, but began as hobbyists with a few chickens roaming around our front yard and back yard. We name our chickens and enjoy them as pets, so when we suffer a loss, it is on a personal and connected level. Hawks and raccoons are the primary culprits. When we first screened our stationary pen, we thought that if the wire was buried, our birds would be safe. We came out one morning and a raccoon had actually reached through the 2”x2” wire, grabbed a bird, and managed to eat all of it except for the pelvic bone, which it could not yank through the opening. Naturally it was my 9 year olds favorite bird at the time. We went back to the drawing board. We tried smaller screening but the predators still found ways to slaughter chickens. When the hawks started swooping in from above and taking their toll we added a netting roof.

We found that a fixed coop and pen full of chickens led to complete defoliation. Our storybook chicken yard soon looked post-apocalyptic. This was coupled with a concentration of droppings that had the potential for unhealthy conditions, as birds can get mites and worms without “clean” dirt. The Front Yard Coop eliminates the hygiene problems of a stationary coop. Moving the birds gives them fresh forage, distributes their impact, and spreads their manure. The coop can be moved to your front yard or your back yard or can even be rolled over to the neighbors to share the organic wealth.

Chickens like to have an area where they can be undercover for safety and protection from the sun and rain. This is also where they can go if one of the chickens puts out a special warning cluck, which is usually Chickenese for “hawk overhead—run and hide.” In our yard, the chickens’ favorite hiding places are under either a large beech tree or blue spruce near their pen, or under the eaves outside the coop door. We wanted to provide built-in protection from both weather and overhead predators, so our design places the chicken coop above the pen.

We love raising chickens and they have become a huge part of our lives. However, not being full time farmers, there are sometimes things on the family agenda that get in the way of closing in the birds for the night. When the sun sets, the most aggressive chicken predators come out, so it is dangerous if your chickens aren’t shut safely inside their coop after dark. Sometimes we have even wanted a weekend away and have been tied down by the needs of the flock. When you can provide enough food and water for your chickens, nothing can get at it or them, and they can roost safely at night, you can stop worrying about leaving home for the weekend. You can have your chickens and your social life.

Is Actually A Chicken Tractor

Chicken tractors have gained popularity exponentially over the past few years. Joel Salatin popularized them for production pasture operations and residential versions quickly followed.

The basic design equation for any chicken tractor is to balance the distance of the frame from the ground, to the size of your hens and the unevenness of your ground. Some space is essential to operation and is acceptable so long as owners understand that the pen is only to keep chickens IN, while the coop is designed to keep predators OUT.

Our tractor is unique in that the rear wheels have two height positions , thereby raising or lowering the coop 2”. If you have young chicks the wheels are easily removed so it will sit all the way down on the ground. As the birds grow the wheels can be remounted at the low height first and the higher height second.

General Information

The Front Yard Coop measures 4 x 8 ‘, and is 51” at its tallest point. The hen house is 3 x 4’ , and sits 20” off the ground, creating a shaded area underneath for your birds. The water tube holds 5 gallons of water and is made of stainless steel. The roof is standing seam galvanized 24 gauge steel, and the frame is .063 tubular steel, powder coated. We guarantee materials and craftsmanship for one year from date of purchase.

PLEASE NOTE: Delivery time 4-6 weeks . Delivery is available locally from Katonah, NY 10536 at the rate of $1.75 per mile round trip. For national delivery with common carrier call us for a rate quote at 914-245-0321. All purchases subject to NY State sales tax